Real James Dean

June 15, 2016

James Dean is a legendary screen icon who only made three movies before his untimely death in 1955 at age 24: Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant, all on the American Film Institute's list of the 400 best movies of all time. Yet many don't realize that Dean never saw stardom in his lifetime; of those three movies, two were not released until after the actor's death. That could account for Dean's almost mythic status. At the time of his shocking death, scores of interviews were given by those who knew him, and according to film historian Winkler (Dennis Hopper: The Wild Ride of a Hollywood Rebel), those recollections would have been lost if not gathered here. There are personal accounts from many, from his grandmother to ex-lovers to fellow actors with whom he worked. The volume paints a picture of a talented but complex and tortured man. VERDICT A fascinating compendium that may be of interest to film buffs; however, one wonders how many readers care about this level of detail on Dean anymore.--Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA

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